Theatrical illusion apparatus.



W. HANLON.

THEATRIGAL ILLUSION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 21,1912.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM HANLON, 0F COHASSET, MASSACHUSETTS.

THEATRICAL ILLUSION APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

Application filed May 21, 1912. Serial No. 698,701.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HANLQN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cohasset, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Theatrical Illusion Apparatus,- of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to theatrical or stage properties and is desi ed to give to the audience the impression rst, that a case, apparently full, is empty, and then to ex hibit unexpectedly the hitherto concealed contents of the case.

The device consists essentially of a case having a double box construction, and a collapsible inner box adapted to be slipped between the double walls of the case and so made as to give the impression to the observer when withdrawn of having occupied the entire space inclosed by the outer walls of the case.

' Accessory to the foregoing are collapsible boxes adapted to be contained in the inner box.

In the drawings accompanying this application Figure 1 1s a perspective view of the exterior of the device showing the same in the position in which it is used. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device showing the interior thereof; Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the inner box removed from the casing. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the removable inserted collapsible boxes. Fig. 6 is a. cross section of the latter. Figs. 7 and 8 are details of the removable boxes.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the figures.

The apparatus comprises an outer box or casing 1, within which are built walls inclosin a compartment 2, and between which and the outer walls of the casing'is a removable box 3. The outer case is open at one or both ends and has doors '4 and 5 closingsuch ends. In addition it has an opening in one of its sides 6, which opening is adapted to be closed by doors 7 The partitions defining the compartment 2 comprise end walls 8 and side walls 9 extending from the wall 6 of the outer case,

to which end and side partitions there is connected a bottom 10. Thus the case 1 is virtually a double box, having false bottom and sides. The compartment 2 is accessible through the side wall 6 of the box by opening the doors 7.

The removable box 3 has side walls 11 rigidly connected with its bottom, but one or both of its end walls 12-and 13 may be folded inward on hinges as indicated in Fig. 2. Such walls may also fold or swing outward. In addition there may be one or more partitions 14; between the ends of the removable box, also hinged so as to fold over. This box may be slipped into or out of the outer casing endwise, and when in place its bottom and down folded end wall and partition occupy the space between the double bottom walls 10 and 15 of the outer casing while the side walls 11 lie between the double side walls 9 and 16 of the casing. \Vhen the removable box is placed with both its ends folded down as shown in Fig. 2 it can be removed in either direction, but where it is intended to be removed from one end only, it is not necessary to fold down both end walls 12 and 13, but the one on the end which is first drawn outof the casing may' be left upright.

The walls and partition of the box 3 are spring-actuated. in any suitable way, conveniently by spring hlnges 17 such as are shown in the detail views 7 and 8, or in any other way desired. The object is to cause these partitions to spring u right as soon as they pass from under the fa se bottom of the casing in withdrawal. Any means which will accomplish this end is within the contemplation of my invention and may be employed without constituting a departure therefrom.

I may find it desirable to use 1n connection with this apparatus, and therefore desire to claim in combination therewith, one or more inserted collapsible boxes 18 adapted to fill the interior of the removable box 3, Two such collapsible boxes are in d1cated m F1 2 and a possible construction of the same is shown in F igs. 4, 5, and 6. The colla sible box has a rigid bottom 19, and rigi top frame 20, the latter being made to accommodate a lid or cover 21 adapted to be opened,

' ing the box.

and flexible outside walls. The latter are conveniently made of cloth as being the most available fabric, but of course, I do not reof the box and to each other, and connected by a spring or an elastic cord 26. As will be readily seen from Fig. A the tendency of this spring is to swing the links into alinement and thereby to raise the top of the box, but the latter can be readily depressed and the box collapsed by the exertion of sufficient force.

27 and 28 represent diagonal guy lines for keeping the top and bottom of the box in vertical alinement when expanded.

I desire to state that the means above described for expanding the collapsible box is merely illustrative of-one possible practical device and that I do not restrict this invention thereto, but intend to include within the scope of the invention and of the appended claims, a box however constructed havingthe capacity of being expanded and collapsed.-

Having explained the construction of my apparatus 1 will now describe one of the uses to which "it may be put. The device being prepared as indicated in Fig. 2, is brought upon the stage and placed upon any sort of support-ing means, represented in Fig. 1 by trestles 29 which hold it elevated above the stage floor and show that there can be no possible communication with the interior of the apparatus through a trap door in the floor. Then the removable box is withdrawn from one of the ends of the casing,

' one of the doors 4. or 5 having been opened for that purpose. In the course of this removal, the partition walls of the removable box spring upright and the collapsible inserted boxes expand, the action being so carried out and hidden by the swinging door and the actors or attendants that this expansion of the collapsible boxes and rising of the hinged walls is not noticed by the audience. The impression intended to be given is that the removable box has co n pletely filled the casing and that after 1ts removal the casing is entirely empty. Thereupon the casing is removed from the support, an placed on end and the doors 7 open, allowing the person to step out, or things previously concealed in the compartment 2 to be seen. It should be observed at this point that in practice, the doors 7 will be so accurately fitted, or concealed by ornamentation that they are not apparent to the audience when closed, and that in the drawoss ass ings here annexed the outlines of these doors are shown with exaggerated emphasis for the purpose of illustration.

I claim:

1. A device of the character indicated consisting of an outer case having an end opening and a side opening, a compartment of less dimensions than the case, built into the same and fronting the side opening thereof, and a collapsible inner box movable endwise into and out of the outer case between the walls of the same and of said compartment.

2. A theatrical illusion apparatus comprising an outer casing having an interior compartment open at one side, and a removable box having folding walls adapted to be inserted into the casing between the walls of 'the latter and the internal compartment.

8. A theatrical illusion apparatus comprlsing an outer caslng havlng an interior compartment open at one side, and a removable box having folding walls adapted to be inserted into the casing between the walls of the latter and the internal compartment, such folding walls being yieldingly actuated to resume their upright positions upon withdrawal from the casing.

4. An apparatus of the character described comprising a casing having double walls and an opening at one side, a removable box having a bottom and longitudinal walls adapted to enter the spaces between the double Walls of the casing, and said re- Inovable box having also transverse walls hinged to fold and permit entrance into such spaces.

5. An illusion apparatus comprising a cas' ing having a double bottom and double sides, doors in the top wall of the casing and a door in the end thereof, and a box having a bottom and sides adapted to enter the end of the casing and slip bet-ween the double bottom and double sides thereof, said removable box having also a folding end wall and a folding transverse partition adapted to swing back to permit entrance into the casing.

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising an outer casing, a compartment or chamber built into such case and accessible through one of the walls thereof, an inner box having a bottom, sides, and ends, one of such ends being hinged to fold toward the bottom, whereby said box may be inserted into the casing between the walls of the latter and the Walls of the inner compartment, and a collapsible box contained in the said removable box.

7 The combination of a case having a door in its end and a door in one side, inner Walls within said case arranged to form a compartment to which said side door gives access and having its bounding walls separated from'the walls of the case, a box movable endwise into said case having a bottom and sides adapted to enter the space between In testimony whereof I have afiixed my the Walls1 (if the casle and of dthe compartsignature, in presence of two Witnesses.

ment, an; aving aninged en wall min ted to fold"toward the bottom whereby to WILLIAM HANLON' 5 permitentrance into such space. and means Witnesses:

acting yieldingly with tendency to hold P. WV. PEZZETTI,

such end wall upright. k E. BATCHELDER. 

